L-R Emily Williams and Kate DeAraugo belt it out in the competition's final week.

A Brisbane forklift driver narrowly missed winning the Australian Idol singing competition with a one per cent vote separating her from winner Kate DeAraugo minutes before voting phone lines closed.

Emily Williams, 20, a single mother and former forklift driver, was widely thought to win the televised competition. Australian bookmaker Centrebet consistently rated her as the favourite.

Williams was the contestant who received most of competition judge Mark Holden's signature "touchdowns", his personal thumbs up for outstanding performances.

As the Australian Idol, DeAraugo won a recording contract with Sony BMG and a new Mazda MX5 but Williams is expected to be approached for a future recording contract.

More than 25,000 Idol hopefuls across Australia auditioned for the show, which is a franchise of the successful UK Pop Idol, created by Simon Fuller.